near to Widnes, Halton, Great Britain

View NE, towards Appleton and St Helens. The train is going SW off the ex-LNW line (original St Helens & Runcorn Gap Railway and closed to passengers from 18/7/51) and is heading for Spike Island Sidings. The line forking left had been the 'normal' line through Widnes South (ex-LNW) station (closed to passengers 10/9/62) to Ditton Junction and Liverpool (Lime Street), which connected just off here to the right with the line from Manchester (London Road) and Stockport via Warrington (Low Level). Crossing over the bridges in the background are the direct ex-LNW goods line between Carterhouse and West Deviation Junctions - missing Widnes South station. Crossing in parallel with and behind it would be the ex-GC & Midland Joint (not CLC) loop line from Widnes Junction (CLC) through Widnes Central station to Hough Green (CLC). (The 'Direct' CLC main line passes further north through Farnmouth (Widnes) station (renamed Widnes North 5/1/59, plain 'Widnes' 6/5/68) and the loop through Widnes Central was closed on 6/10/64). The locomotive is LMS Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No. 41237 (built 9/49, withdrawn 9/64). Great Chemical Works dominates the area and the train has its products in tank wagons.